Editorial: We recommend Fitzsimons in Democratic race for agriculture commissioner

The Democratic primary for agriculture commissioner comes down to whether you favor smoke and name recognition, or actual ranching policies. We prefer the latter.

The ever-entertaining Richard “Kinky” Friedman, 69, is running along with Hugh Asa Fitzsimons III, 59, a bison rancher from the Winter Garden area southwest of San Antonio.

Friedman, an author and songwriter who lives on a nonworking ranch in Medina, included interesting perspectives on issues such as water harvesting in his candidate questionnaire. However, such ideas are lost in the cacophony of Friedman’s single-issue campaign for legalization of marijuana. It’s a legitimate issue for debate — but not in a race for agriculture commissioner, who has no power to write laws and certainly not to legalize marijuana.

On the other hand, Fitzsimons, 59, exhibited a deeper knowledge of issues that will come before the commissioner. He wants to mandate the recycling of wastewater from fracking wells, promote grass-fed beef, and get locally produced fruits and vegetables into school lunch programs. Fitzsimons, who raises bison and produces guajillo honey, said he entered the race because, “for the past five years I have watched my water levels drop by as much as half in my wells.” Of such issues are campaigns born.

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